Electric door-operated switch assembly



G. L. WEBB April 5, 1966 ELECTRIC DOOR- OPERATED SWITCH ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 16, 1963 mw @J mw Mh m@ www @www United States Patent O 3 244,829 ELECTRHC DQR-@PERATED SWETCH ASSEMEEY George L. Webb, Lancaster, hio, assigner to Essex Wire Corporation, Fort Wayne, ind., a corporation of Michigan Fiied Sept. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 309,122 3 Claims. (Cl. 20d-61.62)

This invention relates to an electrical switch mechanism and, more particularly, to an improved electrical door switch assembly of the type particularly suited for use in an illuminating circuit in an automobile.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved electrical door switch assembly including a novel insulator member having a pair of contact means carried thereon for closing an electrical circuit.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electrical door switch assembly having a movable plunger carrying an insulator on the rear thereof,the insulator supporting a pair of terminals for movement into and out of engagement with a contact block for closing and opening an electrical circuit.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved electrical door switch assembly having an elongated body member, a plunger reciprocably supported within the elongated body member, an insulator carried on the plunger for movement therewith, and a pair of electrical contacts secured to the insulator and adapted to be carried thereon into and out of engagement with electrical contact means defined on the elongated body member.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side View, partly in cross section of the electrical switch assembly of the present invention installed in a support frame of an automobile or the like, the switch being shown in its open position;

FIGURE 2 is a side View, in cross section, of the electrical switch assembly shown in FIGURE l, the switch being shown in the closed position;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional View of the switch assembly taken generally along line .3 3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional View of the switch assembly taken generally along line 4 4 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE S is a perspective View of the insulator utilized in the preferred form of the switch assembly.

Although the switch assembly of the present invention has general utility, the preferred embodiment herein described by way of illustrative example finds particularly useful application when utilized as a door switch assembly for an automotive vehicle. In such application the door switch assembly is adapted to control the electrical cir-cuit of a convenience light illuminated in response to opening of a vehicle door.

Referring to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated the switch assembly of the present invention aiixed within an opening i2 in a door pillar or like portion of the vehicle frame 14. The switch assembly 10 is adapted to be actuated in response to movement of the door 16 which may be suitably pivoted on the vehicle frame adjacent the switch assembly.

The switch assembly 10 of this invention comprises an elongated body member 20 mounted in the opening 12 in the Vehicle frame. The body member 20 includes a hexagonal head portion 21 having a generally frusto-conical surface 22 defined on the rear thereof and an externally threaded shank 23. The shank 23 may be tapered so as to be self-tapping when inserted into the opening 12 in CII support frame 14. A lock washer 25 having a configuration complementary to the conical surface 22 is carried on the shank of body member 20. Afxed to the rear of the body member 2@ is an insert member 26 made from an electrically conductive material, as for example, brass. Such insert member defines electrical Contact means on the rear of the body member Ztl, as will be made more apparent hereafter.

Reciprocably carried within the body member 20 and extending from either end thereof is a rod-like or cylindrically shaped plunger 28. The plunger, which includes an elongated stem 30 of circular cross section and a rounded head 32 aixed to the front of the elongated stem, is biased forwardly in the elongated body member 20 by a coil spring 34. The plunger is preferably made from metal or other material which is strong and durable.

Fixedly secured to the rear end of the plunger 28 is an insulator 36 constructed and arranged to support a pair of terminals 38 and 39. The insulator is formed from plastic or other non-conductive material, such as nylon. Crimped or otherwise suitably aflixed to the ends of each of the terminal-s are insulated wire conductors 41 and 42, which are adapted to be connected to an illuminating circuit or like electrical circuit in an automobile. As seen in FIGURE 1, the wires 41 and 42 may be bound together by a suitable plastic tape 44.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, it is seen that a longitudinal bore 46 extends through the elongated body member 2t?. The plunger 2S is disposed within the longitudinal bore 46 and is slidably supported at the rear thereof within opening or bore 53, which extends through insert member 2d. The insert member 26 is aiiixed to the rear end of the elongated body member, as for example by a force tit. Knurling may be provided on the exterior of member 26 to further assure the permanency of the connection between member 26 and the rear of shank 23.

Concentrically disposed about the plunger 28 is a tubular sleeve Sti which is adapted to be slidably supported within the bearing flange 43 of the body member 20. The sleeve is thin-walled and is provided on the forward end thereof with an inwardly turned ange 51. One end of coil spring 34 which biases the plunger 28 forwardly in the elongated body member, bears upon flange 51. The flange 51 in turn abuts head 32 of plunger 28. The rear of spring 3d abuts the face 54 of the reduced cylindrical portion 52 of insert member 26.

The rear of the plunger is provided with a plurality of circumferential ribbing members S6 for fixing the plunger within the opening or recess 55 in the insulator 36. The plunger is preferably made from a harder material than the insulator. Thus, the end of the stem 30 can be easily inserted into recess 55. Separation of the insulator from the plunger is resisted by the rib members 56.

As best seen in FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 5, the insulator comprises a body portion 58 having a pair of openings 59 and 66 defined therethrough. The openings are of curved configuration and are complementary to the crossscction of terminals 38 and 39 received therein. Extending rearwardly from the body portion 58 is a spacer portion 62, which is adapted to insulate the median and rear portions of the two terminals `from one another. The spacer portion is defined by a pair of outwardly facing concave surfaces 64, 65. The spacer portion extends rearwardly from body portion a distance at least equal to the exposed length -of the terminals 38 and 39 so as to eiiectively insulate one terminal from the other.

Provided at the rear of the terminals 38 and 39 are curved gripping portions 68 and 69 which are adapted to be squeezed or crimped to the ends of wires 41 and 42. As aforenoted, the terminals have a curved cross-section complementary to the configuration of openings 59 and di) in body 58, in which openings the terminals are retained.

Formed proximate the forward ends ofthe terminals 38 and 39 (as seen in FIGURES 2 and 3) are barbs 66 and 67. The lugs or barbs are adapted to grip the front face `of the insulator once the barbs have been passed through the insulator body portion 5%, thereby securing the terminals within the insulator and preventing withdrawal therefrom in use.

Operation T he threaded shank 23 of the body member 20 is adapted to be atiixed in an opening 12 in the metal door frame 14, of a vehicle. The vehicle frame provides a grounded electrical connection to the elongated body member 20. At the beginning of operation, the switch will normally be in the open position shown in FIGURE l, with a portion of the door 1 6 bearing upon the switch plunger 28, compressing the spring 34, and moving the rear end `of the plunger and insulator and terminals carried thereupon away from the electrically conductive insert member 26. At this time, the switch is open and the electrical circuit is open. Upon movement of the door 16 from the position shown in FIGURE l, the spring 34 will bias the plunger 2S to the right to the position shown in FIGURE 2, thereby permitting the ends of the terminals 38 and 39 to move into contact with the rear face of the insert member 26 and completing an electrical circuit for illuminating a convenience light The `switch assembly ill of the present invention functions in a simple manner, is readily fabricated and assembled and lends itself to mass production techniques. An advantage of the present construction is that the switch assembly may be shipped from a point of manufacture to a point of use without the terminals and the electrically conductive wires affixed to the insulator. The person assembling and installing the switch assembly would merely aflix the two terminals to the insulator and connect the elongated body member to the opening in the door frame or like supporting structure ofthe vehicle frame to prepare the switch mechanism for use.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, I desire it to be understood that it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A switch assembly comprising, 4in combination: an elongated body member having a longitudinal bore therethrough, means for connecting said body member to an opening in a frame member so as to provide an electrical connection between said body member and said frame member, electrical Contact means defined on the rear end of said body member, plunger means reciprocably supported in said longitudinal bore and adapted to extend from each end of said body member, an insulator aliixed to the rear end of said plunger means for movement therewith, a pair of electrical contacts secured to said insulator and adapted to be carried thereon into and out of engagement with said electrical contact means upon reciprocation of said plunger means, and means for biasing said plunger means toward a position engaging said electrical contacts fil with said electrical contact means to ground the contacts to the frame member, said insulator having a pair of openings therethrough, each of said electrical contacts being secured within an opening and extending therethrough from rear to front for making electrical contact with said electrical contact means.

2. A switch assembly comprising, in combination: an elongated body member adapted to be engaged with a frame member so as to make electrical contact therewith, said body member having a conical surface adjacent the front thereof, said body member having a longitudinal bore therethrough, an electrically conductive insert aixed to the rear of said body member having a bore therethrough coaxial with the longitudinal bore in said body iember, a plunger reciprocably carried in said bores and having an insulator member carried on the rear end thereof, said insulator member having a pair of openings therethrough, an elongated electrical contact extending through each opening for engagement with said insert and being affixed within said opening by barb means formed on each contact, said electrical contacts being maintained in insulated relationship with respect to one another, and means for biasing said plunger toward a position engaging said electrical contacts with `said insert to ground each electrical contact to the frame member to complete an electrical circuit through said switch assembly.

3. A switch assembly comprising, in combination: an elongated body member adapted to be engaged with a frame member so as to make electrical contact therewith and having a conical surface adjacent the front thereof, said body member having a longitudinal bore therethrough, an electrically conductive insert atiixed to the rear `of said body member having a bore therethrough c0- axial with the longitudinal bore in said body member, a plunger reciprocably carried in said bores and having an insulator mmeber carried on the rear end thereof, said insulator member comprising a body portion having a pair of openings therethrough and an elongated spacer portion, an elongated terminal extending through each opening for engagement with said insert, said spacer portion being at least coextensive with the exposed portion of said terminals for insulating said terminals from one another, and means for biasing said pluger toward a position engaging :said electrical contacts with said insert to ground each electrical Contact to the frame member, whereby separate electrical circuits may be completed upon engagement of said electrical contacts with said insert that is grounded to said frame member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,641,662 6/1953 Liley 20G-159 2,801,309 7/1957 Higbie et al. 20D-159 2,813,955 lil/1957 Schelling 200-16 2,921,155 1/1960 Basso 260-159 3,115,559 12/1963 Cass et al 20G- 61.89 3,137,774 6/1966r Dow et al. 20G-16 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

BENJAMN DOBECK, Assistant Exmnz'rzer. 

1. A SWITCH ASSEMBLY COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: AN ELONGATED BODY MEMBER HAVING A LONGITUDINAL BORE THERETHROUGH, MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID BODY MEMBER TO AN OPENING IN A FRAME MEMBER SO AS TO PROVIDE AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID BODY MEMBER AND SAID FRAME MEMBER, ELECTRICAL CONTACT MEANS DEFINED ON THE REAR END OF SAID BODY MEMBER, PLUNGER MEANS RECIPROCABLY SUPPORTED IN SAID LONGITUDINAL BORE AND ADAPTED TO EXTEND FROM EACH END OF SAID BODY MEMBER, AN INSULATOR AFFIXED TO THE REAR END OF SAID PLUNGER MEANS FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH, A PAIR OF ELECTRICAL CONTACTS SECURED TO SAID INSULATOR AND ADAPTED TO BE CARRIED THEREON INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ELECTRICAL CONTACT MEANS UPON RECIPROCATION OF SAID PLUNGER MEANS, AND MEANS FOR BIASING SAID PLUNGER MEANS TOWARD A POSITION ENGAGING SAID ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WITH SAID ELECTRICAL CONTACT MEANS TO GROUND THE CONTACTS TO THE FRAME MEMBER, SAID INSULATOR HAVING A PAIR OF OPENINGS THERETHROUGH, EACH OF SAID ELECTRICAL CONTACTS BEING SECURED WITHIN AN OPENING AND EXTENDING THERETHROUGH FROM REAR TO FRONT FOR MAKING ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH SAID ELECTRICAL CONTACT MEANS. 